Report Your Stolen Bicycle
Report Stolen Bicycles Here:
http://bikeeasy.org/report/theft/
The NOLA Stolen Bicycle Map is purely a community mapping project as it does not report to the NOPD
DO NOT FORGET TO FILE A POLICE REPORT!!
NOPD WILL NOT HELP YOU RECOVER YOUR BIKE IF YOU DO NOT REPORT IT!!
To view stolen bicycles and traffic incidents reported to Bike Easy, follow this link:
http://bikeeasy.org/map/table/
Keep An Eye on Social Media / Help Find Stolen Bikes
Keep an eye on @BicycleAlert on Twitter and the Bicycle Alert Facebook Page to be alerted as bikes are reported to Bike Easy. Help spot them on the street and return them to their owners before they are repainted/resold/broken down for parts.
There is also a group called Stolen Bikes NOLA where thefts have been reported as well as discussions of where people have found their stolen bikes, as well as other related discussions.
Check up on Craigslist, as there are a lot of used bikes sold there. Some stolen bikes inevitably end up there.
Report Traffic Incidents
Report traffic incidents to Bike Easy as well as bike thefts. Information helps shape policy as well as infrastructure.
Learn Proper Locking Techniques
Proper locking technique can help prevent a majority of bike thefts. Educate yourself and purchase a high-quality U-lock. Even if your bike is cheap, your U-lock will outlast it and you will still have a bike.
Other resources for locking techniques:
https://www.sfbike.org/resources/theft-locking/#!
http://www.bicycling.com/news/featured-stories/how-lock-your-bike
http://lifehacker.com/5942301/the-proper-way-to-lock-your-bicycle
Save Your Serial Number/Proof of Purchase and Register Your Bike With NOPD
If your bike is stolen and you have no way to prove it is yours, you will have a difficult time recovering it even if you find it. Keep your proof of purchase if you have it, or make sure to write down your serial number and take a photograph of you with your bicycle.
NOPD requires all bicycles worth over $100 to be registered, and the registration can help with recovery of your bicycle (especially if it is spotted). To register your bicycle, go to NOPD’s office at 715 South Broad Street (504-821-2222) with your proof of purchase and $3 for the registration fee. A notarized affidavit is required if you do not have proof of purchase. There are also sporadic bike registration events that can be utilized for the same purpose.
Bicycles recovered by NOPD can be found at NOPD Property Disposals (Make sure to click on the link for bicycles)
Don’t Buy Stolen Bikes
If the price is too good to be true, it might be. If the seller seems sketchy, do your homework. Don’t buy bikes on the street. Lots of stolen bikes are offloaded on Craigslist.
People who buy stolen bikes provide incentive for bike thieves to steal more bikes. Don’t encourage it.